DISTRESS AND THE MICTURATING CYSTOURETHROGRAM - DOES PREPARATION HELP

This study evaluates the impact of therapeutic preparation methods on children undergoing MCUG. Parents of 35 children who had undergone MCU G were surveyed by questionnaire. The child's reaction to investigatio n was assessed using the Groningen Distress Rating Scale (rating 1 = c alm >5 = panic) and parental coping styles using the Utrecht Coping Li st. Families received one of two types of therapeutic preparation: sto rybooklet or storybooklet and play preparation. Reported distress leve ls were significantly lower with therapeutic preparation (mean score 2 .5 +/- 1.02 SD) than without (mean score 3.3 +/- 1.22 SD). Previously, controls reported 46% of anxiety-linked behaviour changes post-MCUG, falling to 13% after therapeutic preparation. Parents who gave a candi d explanation reported significantly lower child distress levels (mean 2.0 +/- 0.91 SD) than those parents who avoided upsetting details (me an 3.1 +/- 0.47 SD). We conclude that distress associated with the MCU G can be reduced by therapeutic preparation of the child and family pr ior to investigation.